International Football
FRANK LAMPARD WARNS ENGLAND MANAGER, SOUTHGATE; ‘ABRAHAM’S BLESSINGS MAY BE NIGERIA’S’
Chelsea manager, Frank Lampard has admitted he wouldn’t be surprised if in-form Tammy Abraham finds himself at the centre of an international tug-of-war. Nigeria two years ago made an overture to the player and got a passive approval for a switch of national allegiance before Abraham changed his mind.
Now, his club manager, fears ‘Abraham blessings could be Nigeria’s’.
Abraham, who has scored seven goals in his last three games, has already been capped by England at senior level.
But, as his two caps came in friendlies against Germany and Brazil in 2017, he could still switch allegiance to Nigeria and recently admitted he could be tempted by a Super Eagles call-up.
London-born Abraham is eligible for Nigeria through his parents and Lampard says interest from the African nation is inevitable.
‘He has put himself in the bracket for England by being the top scorer at this point so it’s one for Gareth [England manager Gareth Southgate]. I wouldn’t want to step on his toes but it’s clear from what Tammy is doing he will be wanted.’
Abraham, 21, has silenced the early doubts about his Premier League quality with his recent goal spree and is now preparing for his Champions League debut against Valencia tomorrow night.
Lampard added: ‘I never had any clear expectations for him only the fact I believed in him and trusted him.
braham has made a flying start to the season, scoring seven goals in his last three games
‘I know a lot has been made of the ban and giving young players potential opportunities but I felt the time was right for Tammy to have his opportunity at this club anyway because of the quality he has got.
‘I’m really delighted he has got his goals. I think there is more to come. So he is in a good place.
‘He just needs to sustain and improve even more and with his mentality every day and the way he is I hope to see that.’
Chelsea will be without Antonio Rudiger and Emerson for their Group H opener against their Spanish visitors tomorrow night.
Rudiger came off at half-time in his comeback game against Wolves on Saturday after aggravating a groin problem.
He will have a scan this afternoon, with Lampard hoping it is not long-term having only just got the defender back following knee surgery. Left-back Emerson is still sidelined due to a thigh problem.
N’Golo Kante, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Reece James all took part in Chelsea training this morning but remain short of match fitness.
Well-travelled Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte has been named as Guinea’s new coach, less than a month before their next round of World Cup qualifiers.
Duarte, 56, has twice previously coached Burkina Faso and taken charge of Gabon and Togo, while also coaching at clubs in Portugal, France, Tunisia, Angola and Saudi Arabia.
Guinea’s football federation gave no contract details when they made the announcement on Monday, but said they would be looking for Duarte to “restructure their national team”.
Guinea trail leaders Algeria by eight points in their World Cup qualifying group with four games remaining, leaving them with only a slim chance of qualification.
They play Somalia away on September 5 and then Algeria at home on September 8 in their next two qualifiers although a stadium ban means Guinea have moved their home game to Casablanca, Morocco.
-Reuters
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Veteran coach Louis van Gaal says he has been cured of cancer and is keen for a return to the higher levels of the game.
The 73-year-old announced three years ago that he was suffering from prostate cancer, but told a Dutch television talk show, “I’m no longer bothered by cancer.”
When he announced his illness, Van Gaal was the coach of the Dutch national team, but he has not worked since the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
“Two years ago, I had a few operations. It was all bad then. But it all worked out in the end. I have check-ups every few months, and that’s going well. I’m getting fitter and fitter,” he said.
Van Gaal, whose career has included stints at Ajax Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United, reiterated a lack of interest in returning to club management but said becoming the national coach of a top-tier country could tempt him back.
He now serves as a special advisor to Ajax.
-Reuters
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In a compelling twist of football destiny, Davide Ancelotti is stepping into his own spotlight as he begins his first head coaching role at Brazilian club Botafogo—just months after parting ways with his legendary father, Carlo Ancelotti, at Real Madrid.
The 35-year-old has been appointed as Botafogo’s new manager, the club announced on Tuesday, following the sacking of Renato Paiva. Davide, who has spent the last decade working alongside his father at some of Europe’s top clubs—including Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton, and Real Madrid—has signed a one-year deal with the Rio-based team.
This marks a significant milestone for the younger Ancelotti, whose career has long been shaped by his father’s influence, but who now faces the challenge of carving his own identity on the touchline.
The move comes shortly after both father and son departed Real Madrid at the end of last season, with Carlo taking over the Brazilian national team. Now, in a poetic alignment, father and son find themselves on different paths within Brazilian football—one leading the Seleção, the other steering the fortunes of a storied domestic club.
Botafogo’s decision to appoint Davide follows a controversial parting with Paiva, who was dismissed just days after their exit from the Club World Cup. Though he oversaw a stunning win over Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain, a 1-0 extra-time loss to Palmeiras in the round of 16 proved to be his final act after just four months in charge.
As Davide Ancelotti begins this new chapter, all eyes will be on whether the son of one of football’s most decorated managers can step out from his father’s shadow—and perhaps, in time, build a legacy of his own.
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